Discriminator circuit



July 13, 1954 N. F. MOODY DISCRIMINTOR CIRCUIT Filed March 16, 1953 Patenteci July 13, 19554 STATE DISCRIMINATOR CIRCUIT Application March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342,561

Claims priority, application Canada March 31, 1952 (Ci. Z50-27) 16 Claims. l

The invention relates to a voltage discriminator circuit and particularly concerned with a circuit of the trigger type which provides an output pulse of a predetermined magnitude for eacli input pulse which exceeds a predetermined voltage level.

ln a voltage discriminator circuit oi the trigger type it important that the circuit be of high sensitivity d that there :be negligible change in sens 'ing ageing oi tbe components of tbe gger circuits known prior to the circ" present Nennen, 'Wo tubes have been arranged in a rrp-flop circuit having two stable states,

stability seing achieved by forcing the circuit from one stable state into the threshold of linear, extremely .nigh gain from which the circuit flops over into its other stable state Where the loop gain becomes Zero. rlius, initially, the iirst tube would be conducting and the second tube would be biased Upon receipt of a negati-ve input e, t'ne Fi t tube would amplify, generally nonlinea ly at nrs-t because it would be bottomed (tiret it would be operating near the knee of charac'l i etic) and then would ampliy until second tube conducts, at e positive feedback makes the gain ,uit Lee ver; rapidly. The circuit then the second. tube conducting non-conducting. The circuit 'nal state, either by allowing relax, giving a shaped output vvlnc i lie cin 's over with to i a time constant pulse, by tbc input signal voltage becoming reduced to a value below the triggering tlires hold. i be Schmitt 1Ltrigger circuit (described in the be xi; Electro-nies, -ilrnore and Sands, M

Graw-:lill Book Company, New York, 1949, at

994.63), and. binary pairs operate in this and all suier from certain inherent required to accept very fast Elie st lace, tbe gain of these prior .uct-,its for 'nigh frequencies (l0 to 20 megais low, and tbe circuits will only change when tbe anode ci the iirst tube has risen volts, wle-ich when referred to the grid circuit ci tube, indicates that the tube must start ccliiucting the knee of its plate characteristic, and a large input signal is reicularly if the input signal is a very quircl, c l ita-.ow pulse, i'or example, .05y microsecond. Als-o, charge which is always contained in the capacities existing at the anode ci the .tiret tube must be removed. before the circuit will revert to its other h I rbe present invention overcomes the instability and the lack of sensitivity found in previously lznown triggered discriminator circuits, when used for very fast pulses requiring a high resolving power, by providing a circuit in which both tubes are conducting with initially high loop gain, tbe circuit being stabilized by means of a negative feedback path which is removed upon triggering of the circuit.

A voltage discriminator circuit according to tbe present invention comprises a first and a second amplifier tube, the anode of the irst being coupled to the control grid oi the second tube so that the voltage of tbe control grid of the second tube tends to vary according to that of the anode of the first tube; a negative feedback circuit from the cathode circuit of the second tube to the control grid. the iirst tube; means for supplying operating voltages to each said tube so that each tube is in a conducting state with said negative feedback circuit stabilizing the current in the first tube; a ilrst, a second and a third rectifying means of which each has its positive pole connected to the control grid of the nrst tube; the rst rectifying means having its negative pole connected to an input connection for said discriminator circuit, the input connection including means for setting the negative pole of the nrst rectifying means at aV predetermined positive voltage; the second rcctifying means series connecting the negative feedback circuit to the control grid or the rst tube; the third rectiiying means having its negative pole connected to a source oi iiiied reference potential; means connected to the control grid. of the first tube for supplying current from asource of potential which is positive with respect to tbe i'ixed reference potential; and an output connection from the anode-cathode circuit of the second tube.

Preferably, according to tbe present invention, a positive feedback circuit is connected irorn the cathode circuit of the second tube to tile cathode circuit or the first tube so that as soon as the circuit is triggered its amplication is greatly increased due to the positive feedback. lt is also preferred to have a rectifying means with its positive pole connected to tne control grid of the second tube and hai/'iner its negative pole connected to a source oi positive voltage stabilized by means of a negative eeibacr cir#- 3 cuit. Upon the circuit being triggered, the negative feedback circuit becomes disconnected due to the action of a rectifying means connected in it and the positive feedback circuit increases the loop gain. A circuit according to the invention can have a high resolution and, if desired, its resolving time can be varied and set so that the circuit rejects spurious input pulses such as may be caused by a noise pulse on the trailing edge of a signal pulse. When the dead time is preset, the circuit will extend the dead time to equal the length of the input pulse should the latter exceed the chosen dead time. In this way double counting of a wide pulse is avoided.

The invention will be further described with reference to the attached drawing which shows a schematic circuit diagram of a preferred form of a Voltage discriminator circuit according to the invention.

The input to the circuit shown in the drawing is through a condenser CI connected to the control grid of a pentode type tube VI. The control grid of the tube VI is also connected to the variable tap of a multi-turn, helical potentiometer Ri through series-connected resistor R2. One end of the potentiometer RI is connected to a source of +300 volts through a resistor R3 and its other end is connected to ground and to a source of 150 volts through resistors R4 and R5, respectively. The screen grid of the tube VI is supplied from a source of +250 volts, and the anode is supplied from a source of +400 volts through a resistor R6. A condenser C2 provides a bypass path from the anode to ground. The cathode of the tube VI connects to a source of 250 volts through a resistor R'I.

Input to the triggered discriminator circuit, which comprises the two pentode type tubes V2 and V3, is through a diode type tube V4 having its cathode connected to the cathode of the tube VI and its anode connected to the control grid of the tube V2. Other connections to the control grid are from a source of +300 volts through a resistor R3 and from ground through a diode type tube V5. A third diode type tube V6 has its anode connected to the control grid of the tube V2 and has its cathode connected to a source of -250 Volts through a resistor R9. A resistor RI2 and a shunt-connected condenser C3 are connected between the anode of the tube V2 and the control grid of the tube V3. The anode of the tube V2 is connected to a source of +400 volts through a resistor RIB, and the cathode, is connected to a source of +250 volts through a resistor RII.

The control grid of the tube V3 is connected to a source of -250 volts through a resistor R13 and is connected to a source of +45 volts through a diode type tube VI. Operating voltage for the anode of the tube V3 is supplied from a source of +400 volts through a resistor RI4. The cathode of the tube V3 is connected to ground through series-connected resistors RI 5, RI 6 and RI 'L Another connection from the cathode of the tube V3 provides a negative feedback circuit through a resistor RI 8, a shunt-connected condenser C4, and the diode tube V6. A positive feedback circuit is provided from the cathode of the tube V3 to the cathode of the tube V2 through a resistor RIS, a shunt-connected crystal type rectier DI and a condenser C5. The junction of the condenser C5, the resistor RIB and the cathode connection of the rectifier DI is connected to a source of +300 volts through a resistor R20. The screen grid of the tube V3 is supplied from a source of +250 volts. The output of the circuit can be obtained 'acsasoe either from the anode of the tube V3 through a series-connected condenser C6 and across a resistor RZI or from the junction point of the resistors RI 5 and RIG in the cathode circuit of the tube. A second positive feedback circuit is provided from the junction point of the resistors RI G and RIT through a diode tube V8 connected to the cathode of the tube V2.

The following table provides examples of values and characteristics of components which may be used in the circuit shown in the drawing. However, as is customary in designing electronic circuits, the values and characteristics of the components should be selected to suit the particular application of the circuit.

RI 10 turn helical potentiometer of 0.5% linearity of 20,000 ohms total resistance. R2 220,000 ohms. R3 75,000 ohms. R4 '7,000 ohms. R5 30,000 ohms. R6 4,700 ohms. R1 r7,500 ohms. R8 82,000 ohms. R9 41,000 ohms. RIU 50,000 ohms. Rl 27,000 ohms. RI2 25,000 ohms. RI3 '120,000 ohms. RI4 5,000 ohms. RIE 330 ohms. RIG 330 ohms. RI'I 22 ohms. RIS 3,900 ohms. RIS 1,000 ohms. R20 220,000 ohms. R2| 330 ohms. CI 0.01 mfd. C2 0.1 mfd. C3 50 mmfd. C4 100 mmfd. C5 Variable 100-6,800 mmfd. C6 0.1 mfd. VI and V3 British Mullard EF55. V2 BAHG.

V4 EA50. V5 and V6 GALS. V'I and V8 6AL5. DI Crystal diode.

In the circuit shown in the drawing, the grid potential of the tube VI is set by adjustment of the potentiometer R I. If the mutual conductance of the tube VI is 12 milliamperes per volt (as is the case for the British Mullard type tube EF) the resistance of Rl is 'i500 ohms, and the negative potential applied to the resistor R'I is large, e. g., -250 Volts as indicated in the drawing, the potential of the cathode of VI will follow accurately that of the control grid as set by the potentiometer RI. In this case the tube VI forms part of an A. C. feedback amplifier and the signal generated at the cathode of the tube VI is developed from an impedance of about 2 or 3 ohms.

Assuming that the diode tube V3 is removed from the circuit, then the diode tubes V4 and V5 are the non-linear elements and the threshold or triggering of the tubes V2 and V3 causes complete discriminator action. The control grid of the tube V2 is held near ground potential by the diode tube V5 which carries current to ground from the resistor RB. Adjusting the potentiometer RI to raise the cathode voltage of the diode tube V causes the diode tube V4 to remain nonconducting until a negative going input pulse overcomes this bias and the tubes V2 and V3 are triggered. The steady current in the diode tubes V and V5 insures that any small capacity currents flowing across the diode tube V4 do not trigger the tubes V2 and V3. As the diode tubes Vfl and V5 are connected anode to anode their contact potential drift during life is substantially cancelled, giving a degree of compensation in the setting accuracy of the discriminator.

With no input pulse applied to the input terininais of the circuit, the tubes V2 and Vt are conducting with high loop gain, the circuit being stabilized by means of the negative feedback path Ch, EAS and VE to the control grid of the tube V2. Upon an input pulse being received,the impedance of the diode tube V6 is increased reducing the amount of negative feedback and allowing the tubes V2 and V3 to produce gain to the cathode of the tube V3. As soon as the diode tube VE is biased oi the cathode of the tube V3 rises with extreme rapidity biasing oi V6 still further.

The tube V2 has its anode potential set just above the knee of its anode characteristic (50 volts in the particular circuit shown in the drawing) and carries as much anode current as is con- With high gain and limited anode supply voltage. The current for this tube is obtained from the tube through the diode tube V8 anc. the resistor Rl l to ground. The control grid of the tube V3 is D. C. connected to the anode of the tube V2 by means of resistors Ri2 and Ris. condenser C3, which is shunted across the resistor REE serves as a speed-up condenser to increase the gain at high frequency. The rising anode wave form of the tube V2 brings the control grid of the tube V3 up until it catches on to the volts available at the diode tube Vl and a gross overload of the tube V3, overswingls and possibility of double output pulses are ninated. The resistor R29 allows 1 milliainpere oi current to flow through the resistor RES to the cathode of the tube V3. has

The resistance Rl 9 value of 1G06 ohms so that a l volt bias eX- oss the crystal diode Dl and, consequently, the resistor R553 is effective in the positive feedpath from the cathode of the tube V3 to the cathode of the tube V2. The tube V3 is conducto a limited extent and has about 10 milliamof current at its cathode, but is capable of ring a high peak current of the order of 250 eres. The cathode impedance of the tube sts of the resistance Rl i, the non-linear of the diode tube Vt in series with the El?, and the primary positive feedback through the condenser C5 and the resistor f low impedance cathode follower V3. c'i'cuit through the diode tube VB and the e or Rl l constitutes a secondary positive feedo .z path. is the cathode impedance of V2 is elatively low, the tube V2 is enabled to have high air (for example, in the order of 100) and, due t e positive feedback through the resistor REQ the condenser C5 into the cathode impedance of the tube V2 and, due to the positive feedback through the diode tube VS and the resistor RVF, 1L`Y`e loop gain is increased to a very high value.

To prevent noise or any other small disturbance upsetting the circuit the output of the tube V3 isv fed back to the input of the tubeVZ such phasek `ough the resistor RH and a small current is l voltage increases.

that it is negative feedback; The use of a diode tube in the feedback path makes a complete analysis quite complex, but to a first order the diode tube can be replaced by equivalent resistances to provide design conditions. Thus, if the impedance of the diode tubes V5 and V6 are equal and the presence of the condenser Cil across the resistor Rl 8 makes (for high frequency purposes) the cathode of the diode tube VE the same A. C'. potential as the cathode of the tube V3 (the diode tube V4 is considered to be biased off in this analysis), the circuit reduces to the form of a normal negative feedback amplifier in which the A factor of the well known gain formula is large due to the internal positive feedback loop. However, according to the present invention diode type tubes carrying D. C. currents are used in conjunction with the feedback circuit. The impedance of the diode tube V8 is relatively low so that the capacity currents from the diode tube V13 tend to cause the circuit to change overfrom a low gain control feedback amplier to a trigger circuit.

It will now be assumed that there is an input negative signal at the low impedance cathode ci the tube Vl of suilicient magnitude to overcome the bias on the diode tub'e V4 thereby decreasing its impedance. As the impedance of the diode tube Ve decreases that of the diode tubes V5 and V5 increases and the result is that the ,c factor (feedback ratio) decreases and the output As soon as the change in iinpedance of the diode tube V6 becomes logarithmic, the cathode voltage of the tube V3 rises rapidly tending to cut off the diode tube VS and to make the circuit trigger. The loop gain should now be enough to make the circuit unn stable and at this point the crystal diode Di becomes effective. When l volt of positive signal is obtained at the cathode of the tube V3 the impedance of the crystal rectifier Dl is reduced by about 2 to 4 times so that it acts as a short circuit across the resistor R59 causing the positive feedback to be increased. A similar action occurs in the diode tube V8 because as the iinpedance of the diode tube V8 increases, so the amount of positive feedback through the condenser C5 increases. The result is that when enough signal reaches the control grid of the tube V2 (for example, about U25 volt) to cause the diode tube V'to increase its impedance and the crystal diode DE to reduce its impedance, the anode of the tube Vrises very rapidly until control grid of the tube V3 catches on to the +45 volts available through the diode tube Vi. The negative feedback diode tube V6 becomes ineffective due to the presence of the condenser Cil, and the 45 volt signal appearing at the cathode of the tube V3 is transferred through the condenser C5 to the cathode of the tube V2 raising its potential by 45 volts and biasing off the diode tube V8 by 45 volts. The current traversing the resistor Ril now charges the condenser C5 until the cathode of the tube V2 reaches ground potential, and the time constant of the negligible negative signal still present, i. e., the dead time will extend to the end of the signal. If desired the dead time can be made variable by providing a plurality of condensers C5 of different values arranged to be individually selected and switched into the circuit, e. g., by means of a switch.

At the moment the input signal ends, the condenser C3 contains a small charge (the time constant of C3 and RiZ is short compared to the smallest pulse duration) and C4 is uncharged (the time constant of the C4 and R58 is long compared to the longest pulse duration). The tube V2 bottoms rapidly, the tube V3 is cut oif, and the condenser C5 discharges through the diode tube V8. With the tube V2 bottomed, the loop gain will be small and when the condenser C5 has completely discharged, the anode of the tube V2 will rise, the cathode of the tube V3 will rise, and the negative feedback circuit will again assume control through the diode tube V6. As indicated in the drawing, a positive output sigm nal can be obtained from the cathode circuit of the tube V3 and a negative output signal can be obtained from the anode of the tube V3.

As indicated by the above description the invention provides a discriminator circuit of the trigger type in which both of the tubes in the trigger circuit are conducting with initially high loop gain, the circuit being stabilized by a negative feedback circuit which is removed when triggering occurs. The circuit can have high resolution and the width of the output pulse (i. e. the dead time of the circuit) can be preset to a desired value.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A voltage discriminator circuit comprising a first and a second electronic vacuum tube of which each has at least a cathode, a control grid and an anode; the anode of the first tube being coupled to the control grid of the second tube so that the voltage of the control grid of the second tube tends to vary according to that of the anode of the first tube; a negative feedback circuit from the cathode circuit of the second tube to the control grid of the rst tube; means for supplying operating voltages to each said tube so that each tube is in a conducting state with said negative feedback circuit stabilizing the current in the first tube; a iirst, a second and a third rectifying means of which each has its positive pole connected to the control grid of the first tube; the first rectifying means having its negative pole connected to an input connection for said discriminator circuit, said input connection including means for setting the negative pole of the iii-st rectifying means at a predetermined positive voltage; the second rectifying means series connecting said negative feedback circuit to the control grid of the first tube; the third rectifying means having its negative pole connected to a source of fixed reference potential; means connected to the control grid of the first tube for supplying current from a source 0f potential which is positive with respect to said fixed reference potential; and an output connection from the anode-cathode circuit of the second tube.

2. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in claim 1 comprising a first positive feedback circuit from the cathode circuit of the second tube to the cathode circuit of the first tube, said feedback circuit comprising a series resistor in shunt connection with a rectifying means, and means for supplying through said series resistor a direct current of a value which provides a predeter- 8 mined bias on said rectifying means so that it is of high impedance when the cathode of the second tube has a voltage below a predetermined positive value and is of a low impedance when the cathode of the second tube has a voltage above said predetermined positive value.

3. A voltage discriminator circuit as dened in claim 2 in which the first positive feedback circuit comprises a condenser connected in series from the series resistor to the cathode of the first tube.

4. A voltage discriminator circuit as deiined in claim 2 in which the rst positive feedback circuit comprises a condenser connected in series from the series resistor to the cathode of the rst tube, and in which said cathode of the rst tube is connected to a source of negative voltage through a resistor.

5. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in claim 2, comprising rectifying means having its positive pole connected to the control grid of the second tube and having its negative pole connected to a source of a positive voltage of predetermined value.

6. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in claim 2, in which the means for setting the negative pole of the first rectifying means at a predetermined positive voltage comprises a third electronic vacuum tube having at least a cathode, a control grid and an anode, means for setting said control grid at a predetermined positive DC bias voltage means for supplying the input pulses to said discriminator circuit to said control grid as negative pulses, a cathode load in the cathode circuit of said cathode, and connections for applying the voltage developed across said cathode load to the negative pole of the first rectifying means.

7. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in claim 2 in which the means for setting the nega tive pole of the first rectifying means at a predetermined voltage comprises a third electronic vacuum tube having at least a cathode, a control grid and an anode, means for setting said control grid at a predetermined positive DC bias voltage, means for supplying the input pulses to said discriminator circuit to said control grid as negative pulses, a cathode load in the cathode circuit of said cathode, connections for applying the voltage developed across said cathode load to the negative pole of the rst rectifying means, and a fourth rectifying means having its positive pole connected to the control grid of the second tube and having its negative pole connected to a source of a positive voltage of predetermined value.

8. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in claim 2 comprising a second positive feedback circuit from the cathode circuit of the second tube to the cathode circuit of the first tube, said second positive feedback circuit comprising a series connected rectifying means having its positive pole connected to the cathode circuit of the second tube.

9.. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in claim 8 in which the first positive feedback circuit comprises a condenser connected in series froom the series resistor to the cathode of the first tu e. n 10. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in `claim 8 in Which the first positive feedback circuit comprises a condenser connected in series from the series resistor to the cathode of the first tube, and in which said cathode of the first tube is connected to a source of negative voltage through a resistor.

11. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in claim 8 comprising rectifying means having its positive pole connected to the control grid of the second tube and having its negative pole connected to a source of a positive voltage oi' predetermined value.

l2. A voltage discriininator circuit as defined in claim 8, in which the means for setting the negative pole of the iirst rectifying means o1" a predetermined positive voltage comprises a third electronic vacuum tube having at least a cathode, a control grid and an anode, means for setting said control grid at a predetermined positive DC bias voltage, means for supplying the input pulses to said discriminator circuit to said control grid as negative pulses, a cathode load in the cathode circuit or" said cathode, and connections for applying the voltage developed across said cathode load to the negative pole oi' the first rectifying means.

13. A voltage discriminator circuit as dened in claim 8, in which the means for setting the negative pole of the rst rectifying means at a predetermined voltage comprises a third electronic vacuum tube having at least a cathode, a control grid and an anode, means for setting said control grid at a predetermined positive DC bias voltage, means for supplying the input pulses to said discriminator circuit to said control grid as negative pulses, a cathode load in the cathode circuit of said cathode, connections for applying the voltage developed across said cathode load to the negative pole of the first rectiiying means, and a fourth rectifying means having its positive pole connected to the control grid of the second tube and having its negative pole connected to a source of a positive voltage of predetermined value.

14. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in claim 1, comprising rectifying means having its positive pole connected to the control grid of li) the second tube and having its negative pole connected to a source of a positive voltage or predetermined value.

15. A voltage discriminator circuit as defined in claim l, in which the means for setting the negative pole of the first rectiiying means at a predetermined positive voltage comprises a third electrcnic vacuum tube having at least a cathode, a control grid and an anode, inea-ns for setting said control grid at a predetermined positive D. C. bias voltage, means for supplying the input pulses to said discrimnator circuit to said control grid as .negative pulses, a cathode load in the cathode circuit of said cathode, and connections for applying the voltage developed across said cathode load to the negative pole of the rst rectiiying means.

16. A voltage discriminator circuit as dened in claim l, in which the means for setting the negative pole or the rst rectifying means at a predetermined voltage comprises a third electronic vacuum tube having at least a cathode, a control grid and an anode, means for setting said control grid at a predetermined positive D. C. bias voltage, means for supplying the input pulses to said discriminator circuit to said control grid as negative pulses, a cathode load in the cathode circuit of said cathode, connections for applying the voltage developed across said cathode load to the negative pole of the first rectifying means, and a fourth rectifying means having its positive pole connected to the control grid of the second tube and having its negative pole connected to a source of a positive voltage of predetermined value.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date 

